Wednesday, October 27, 2010

What Should You Know About Sleeping Disorders

Sleep disorders can involve sleeping difficulties such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive sleep, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep. Dr. Blumenstock specializes in a sleeping disorder known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when breathing is interrupted during sleep. A person with this disorder may stop breathing repeatedly during sleeping hours. This could happen sometimes hundreds of times during one night of sleep. Ceasing breathing during any time means the brain and the rest of the body does not receive the oxygen they need to function.

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. You may be at risk for sleep apnea if you fall under one of the following categories: male in gender, being overweight, prone to snoring, over the age of forty, having a neck size of 17 inches or greater for men and 16 inches or greater for women, having large tonsils, large tongue, or small jaw bone, having family history of sleep apnea, having GERD, and any nasal obstruction due to deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems.

Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder. If you are suspicious or fall into any of the above categories, you should look into being tested. Make an appointment with Dr. Blumenstock today, and be one step closer to better sleep.

Read more on Sleep Apnea in NJ